Hammersmith to Ireland via MK Dons

IF YOU come across someone called Michael Collins - you'd have thought he'd be as Irish as a shamrock.

Nope - not even after a few pints of Guinness. But it was as well for the Hammersmith dad that his son Charlie's grandpa on his mother's side was.

Because the man asking the question about Irish blood in the younger Collins was a Republic of Ireland scout.

Michael affirmed the blood-line, and the 17-year-old striker duly obliged his admiring watcher from the FAI by thumping four goals past Watford for MK Dons in an U18 academy match last October.

Jump to last week, and the lad who had been dumped by Spurs last summer, made back-to-back appearances in the southern

Russian seaside town of Sochi for his adopted country at U19 level.

Needless to say, none of this has gone unnoticed by Dons bosses Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton (above), who have hinted that at this rate of progress, young Collins could be banging on the door of a first-team place by the end of the season.

It was a far cry from the misery that afflicts young hopefuls when they're told they're no longer wanted by a club.

"Charlie was gutted when he was released by Spurs," said Michael.

"But he stuck at it, and it's going very well for him at the moment.

"He's a born-and-bred Hammersmith lad, and when the Irish scout sidled over, I had to tell him that I wasn't Irish but my wife's father was.

"I'm very proud of him, and he's come on leaps and bounds. He's only17, but he's already taller than me at six-foot-one, and he's not finished yet."